Urban residents pay an arm and a leg to stay alive

In Nairobi and other urban areas, it is now costing an arm and a leg to have a roof over one’s head and put food on the table. This demystifies a long-held perception that life in the city is a bed of roses.

With inflation figures beyond Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) preferred upper limit of 7.5 per cent, pressure is being exerted on low-income earners, who are finding it hard to make ends meet.

Inflationary pressure has been pushed by a steady rise in food prices, which saw the cost of living rise to 9.04 per cent in February from 6.99 per cent a month earlier, according to data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.

Economists say with the increased cost of living, households will be forced to adjust their budgets and direct their spending to basics.

The cost of food and other basic items has shot up significantly, reducing the purchasing power of most Kenyans in the low-income bracket.

FIVE-YEAR HIGH

The price of maize flour has just crossed the Sh130 mark per 2kg packet, registering a five-year high, with the same quantity of sugar retailing at Sh290.

The situation has been worsened by the ongoing drought that has seen the price of agricultural produce such as onions, tomatoes and other groceries rise significantly, with city dwellers paying dearly for water from vendors, owing to the shortage and a rationing programme.